Ironing machine clutch assembly



P 16, 1953 L. E. SCHRADER 2,851,800

IRONING MACHINE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 3, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 z; //1 4% AM WE TOR Sept. 16, 1958 L. E. SCHRADER momma MACHINE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. s. 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 076.77 Jae/47.4127.

TflF/YK/s 1 6, 1958 L. E. SCHRADER 2,851,800

momma MACHINE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. s, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 7- INVENTOR. 605 ja 7677 {361744 6 7- irrax/uv s Sept. 16, 1958 L. E. SCHRADER 2,851,300

IRONING MACHINE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 3, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Z I W 17 v 3413;

by? EM fed betWeen the 'roll and theshoe. I mgoper-ation is required for material" such as rufiied cure United States Patent O ice IR'ONING MACHINE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY Lbrenrljl, Schrader, Mount Clemens, Mich., assignor to Ironrrte Inc.,zMountClemens, -Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application October 3,1956, Serial No'. 613,750

12 Claims: (Cl; 38'59) This invention relatesigenerally toeironingmachines and 'more particularly. to an ironing machine clutch assembly;

Ironers now in common use include a stationary shoe provided'with' heating elements and a rotatable roll mounted for controlled movement into and out of operatrve engagement with the shoe. For home use, the ironer must 'be capable of performingthe usual ironing operations, namely, pressing and ordinary ironing. An in-and-w out-ironing-operation is. also desirable under certaincir: cumstances. In pressing, the roll is maintained in anon: rotating positionagainstthe shoe for the required press? ing'periodr Inironing, the rollis moved against the shoe with-the roll rotating "and the material to be ironed is An in-and-out iron.-

tainswhich cannot be continuously moved"between the roll'and the shoe by-rotation of the roll'bec'ause ofithe bulk of-therufiles; The ironeriis thushoperatedin an in-andout-'ironing operation so that the roll automatically -moves backand forth against the shoe and rotates when against the shoe.- This invention provides'a clutch'assembly for an-ironer. which is capable of automatically" and selectively providing the above ironing operations;

Anobje'ct ofthis invention, therefore, is to provide an improved ironer clutch assembly.

A-further object of this inventionis-to provide a clutch assembly'which includes,-as an integral part thereof, an actuating trigger so that the assembly can be checked for functional defects prior -to its assembly in the ironer.

Another object of this invention is to'provide' a clutch assembly having parts which'are efiicientlycastfrom powdered metal.

A further object of this'inventionis to provide an ironing machine clutch assembly which is readily assembled in an ironing machine for adapting-the machine'for the desired ironing operations:-

Another object of'this' invention is to provide a clutch assembly which is adapted to be installed'in either a single or a: double knee control ironing machine.

Yet another object of -this invention is to provide 'an ironing machine clutch assembly which is relatively simpleT-inconstruction, economical to produce andeflicient in operation in providing the desired ironing operations.

Further objects, features andadvantages of this invention will be apparent from a'consideration of thefollowing description when taken in connection with the accoma panying drawing in which:

Figrl is a side elevational View of an ironing machine, with the supporting legs therefor removed;

Fig. 2 is an enlargedsectional view ofithe ironing machine of this invention looking substantially along the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3Iisanen1arged fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seenalongthe line 3-3- in Fig. 1;

Fig.4 istasectionalview looking along thedine- L4--4 in Fig. 3;:

Fig.5 jis .a fragmentary sectional .view looking substantiallyalong the liIieS-f-S in Fig, 3;

Fig, 6 isIa sidetelevationaltview of the clutch assembly ofthis invention and the driving ,geartherefor removed fromthe ironer and showing the clutch assembly in a dis"- engaged position;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the gear box for a double knee control ir'onenprovided with the clutch assembly ofthis invention;-

Fig. 8 'is'a side elevational view like Fig. 6 .with'some parts broken away and other parts shown in sectionfor the purpose of clarity and illustrating the clutch'assembly of this invention in driven engagement withfithe driving'member therefor;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary'vertical sectional view: through the gear box for a single knee control ironerprovidedwith the clutch assembly of'this invention and taken along-a line in a'single knee'controlironer corresponding to the Figs. 10 and l1 are composite diagrammatic views'of parts of theclutchassembly of this invention; illustrating the ehangedpositions of the parts during clu'tchoperation and showing the relative positions of the trigger'ring, cam ring and key'ele'ments in fragmentary developed planform for both of the illustrated changed positions;

Fig."'12is an exploded perspective view'of the'parts'of the clutchassembly of thisinvention'illustrated in Figs-=10 and 1l;'and

Fig'ss l3, l4 and'15 are composite diagrammaticvie'ws of parts of the clutch assembly of" this invention'and a single knee control 'rod therefdr, illustratingthe'changed )positions of the parts and the rod duringclutch opera tion and showing the relativepositionsof the ttrigger'ring, cam ring and key elements in fragmentary developed plan form for the changed positions.

Withreferenceto the drawing, the clutch assembly of this invention, indicated generally at 20, isvillustrated-in Fig. 2'inassembly relation with an ironing machine 21'. As best appears in Fig. 1, the machine 21 includes a main frame, only the table portion 22 of whichis illustrated, and a stationary shoe 23 provided with internal heating elements,*not shown, supported at what'will hereinafter be referred to as the front or operator side 24of the table 22..- Arranged centrally on the table 22fattherear side 26'thereof, is a housing 27, which rotatablysupportsza tube 28 (Fig; 2) extended lengthwise of the'table 22. At its ends, the tube 28 carriesa pair ofupwardly and for;- Wardly inclined arms 29 and 31 provided intermediate'their ends with bearings 32 and 33 which rotatablysupport stub shafts 34' and 3'yrespectively, carried byopposite endstof the ironer roll 37.

An .electricmotor 38 (Fig.2) on one side of the housing 27 acts through a first gear train 39 to drive a gear 41 in housing 27, which in turn acts: throughxa selectively operable clutch mechanism 42 to drive a second gear train 43 connected to a shaft 44 extended axially ofethe tube'28. The shaft 44in turn drives a third gear train 46 located in the arm 31 and operable to drive the stub shaft 36 'fo'r rotating the roll 37! As best appears in Fig. 3, the gear 41idriven byathe motor operated gear train 39 is provided with a hub extena sion 4-7 and is rotatably supported on a shaft 48 carriedbyi the housing 27. Rotatably supportedon the'shaft 48t'at a position adjacent the' hub extension 47 -is anin regular shape body member 49 (Figs.,3 and 12) fornthe clutch assembly 20. Keyed to an end portion 51 of .the clutch body 49 remote from the hub extension .47 is a cam member 52 which cooperates with a .follower roller 53 (Fig. 7) to raise and lower a leaf spring arm 54 extended rearwardly from the tube 28. On rotation of the cam. 52 to a position in'which the enlarged portion 50' thereof engages the'follower 53, the arrn=54 acts to rotate the tube 28 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 to move the roll 37 downwardly into operative engagement with the shoe 23. Similarly, when the cam 52 is moved to a position in which the roller 53 is on the cam reduced portion 55, the arm 54 is lowered to rotate the tube 28 to provide for an upward movement of the roll 37 to an up position spaced from the shoe 23 and illustrated in Fig. l. The follower 53 is maintained in rolling engagement with the cam 52 by an encircling strap (not shown).

The clutch assembly is operable to provide for move-- ment of the cam 52, by the driving gear 41, to a first stop position in which the reduced portion 55 of the cam engages the follower 53, a second stop position in which the enlarged portion 58 of the cam engages the follower, and to provide for continuous rotation of the cam. The assembly 20 includes the clutch body 49 which is of a generally tubular shape, having an axial bore 56 through which the shaft 48 extends. On its outer surface, the clutch body 49 (Fig. 12) is of a substantially stepped formation having the successively enlarged sections 57, 58 and 59 arranged inwardly of the reduced end portion 51, with the portion 59 being at the end 6012 of the body 49 adjacent the hub extension 47. At diametrically opposite portions thereof, the body 49 is provided with a pair of longitudinally extended channels 61 of a depth to extend through the sections 57, 58 and 59. Slideably positioned within the channels 61 are a pair of key elements 62 and 63, each of which is provided at its opposite ends with lateral projections 64 and 66 which, for convenience of description, will hereinafter be referred to as the head and tail key portions, respectively. The keys 62 and 63 are of a length (Figs. 3 and 6) such that when positioned in the channels 61 with the head portions 64 positioned outwardly of and adjacent to the inner ends of the channels 61, the tail portions 66 are within the opposite ends of the channels 61.

Positioned about the .body section 57 is a cam ring 67, integrally formed with a radially extended leg 68, having a lower half portion 69 corresponding substantially to the width of the body section 57. The upper half portion 71 is of a reduced width and constitutes slightly more than one-half of the ring 67 for a purpose to appear later. At one juncture of the portions 69 and 71, the cam ring 67 has a sharply inclined portion 72. At the other juncture of the portions 69 and 71, the ring 67 is provided with a gradually inclined cam surface 73. As will more clearly appear hereinafter, the cam ring portion 69 constitutes a cam means which acts to maintain the key heads 64 outwardly of the channels 61.

Rotatably mounted on the body section 58 is a trigger ring 74 (Fig. 12) of a width to extend about the cam ring 67 and provided with a first relatively deep peripherally extended cutout portion 76 through which the leg 68 extends. tend in opposite directions from the cutout 76, with one cutout terminating in an inclined surface 78 and the other in a straight surface 79 hereinafter referred to as the drop off surface. At diametrically opposite portions, substantially opposite the surfaces 78 and 79, the trigger ring 74 is provided with a pair of outwardly extended ears and 78. Each ear includes a. pair of rounded converged portions positioned on vertically opposite sides of an enlarged slot 88 which is undercut relative to the ear portions 75. A retainer disc is arranged on the body portion 51 against the section 57 to maintain the rings 67 and 74 on the body 49. A disc 98 has a pair of notches positioned opposite the channels 61. A sleeve on the portion 51 maintains the cam 52 and the disc 90 in a fixed spaced relation, with the cam 52 being press fit on the body portion 51 to maintain the disc 90 in a fixed position.

The leg 68 on the cam ring 67 extends upwardly through the cutout trigger ring portion 76 and is held in a A pair of narrower cutout portions 77 exfixed upright position by a first plate member 81 extended transversely of the ring 67 and secured by a bolt 82 to a portion of the housing 27 (Figs. 3, 5 and 6). A second plate 83 arranged above the plate 81 and similarly held in a fixed position by the bolt 82 carries a yoke shape spring plate 84 having a pair of curved leg portions 86 and 88 extended partially about the shaft 48 for the clutch assembly 20. The combined length of the legs 86 and 88 (Fig. 5) is such that the head 64 of one or the other of the keys 62 and 63 is always engaged by the plate 84 durirv rotation of the clutch assembly. Also, the terminal end 87 of the longer leg 88 is outwardly curved to provide for the gradual engagement thereof with a key 62 or 63 moving under the terminal end 87 for engagement with the leg 88. The plate 84 acts, therefore, to continuously urge one or the other of the keys 62 or 63 to a position projected outwardly of the end 60b of the clutch body 49. Whether a key is free to move in its channel 61 to such a projected position or not depends on the position of the trigger ring 74, as will more clearly appear hereinafter.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, in the double knee control ironer a projection 91 on the upper end of a control rod 92 supported for vertical movement in a boss 93 on the housing 27, is positioned within the slot 80 in the ear 65 on one side of the trigger ring 74. The lower end of the rod 92 is connected through a link 94 to a knee pad (not shown) positioned beneath the ironer table 22 for convenient knee actuation by the ironer operator. A spring 96 extended between a portion 97 of the housing 27 and a retainer disc 98 on the link 94 normally maintains the trigger ring 74 in the position shown in Figs. 7 and 11. In this position (Fig. 11), the trigger ring 74 acts to hold the key 63 in a retracted position against the pressure of the spring plate 84 and the ring cut out portion 76 is arranged so that the end 89 thereof is positioned adjacent the cam ring leg 68. The half portion 69 of the cam ring 67 maintains the key 62 in a retracted position. For convenience of description, it is hereinafter assumed that the key 63 is adjacent the spring leg 88 and the key 62 adjacent the spring leg 86 in the up position of the roll 37 and vice versa in the down position of the roll 37 against the shoe 23.

On movement by the operator of the knee pad for the control rod 92, the rod 92 is moved upwardly against the action of the spring 96 to rotate the trigger ring 74 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 7 to the position of the trigger ring shown in Fig. 10, in which the opposite end 99 of the cut out portion 76 is adjacent the cam ring leg 68. The shape of the ear 65 to provide the two rounded converging portions 75 facilitates such movement of the control rod 92 without any binding of the car 65 on the rod projection 91.

In the Fig. 10 position of the trigger ring 74, the drop off surface 79 has been moved behind or to one side of the key 63 so that the key 63 is opposite one cutout ring portion 77 and is thus free to move inwardly of its channel 61 to a projected position received in a notch 101 in the hub extension 47 for the driving gear 41. As a result, a driving connection is effected between the driving gear 41 and the cam 52, so that the cam 52 is rotated to move the ironer roll 37 relative to the stationary shoe 23. As long as the trigger ring 74 is maintained in this position illustrated in Fig. 10, every time a key 62 or 63 travels off the trigger ring 74- at the drop off surface 79, the leg 88 of the spring plate 84 acts to move the key into a cutout portion 77 of the trigger ring 74 to a position projected outwardly of the clutch body 49. Concurrently, the other key 62 or 63 is moved by the cam surface 73 on the cam ring 67 to a retracted position in its channel 61. This key is then maintained in a retracted position by the wide portions of the rings 67 and 74 until such key travels past the drop off surface 79. As prev ously described, the wide portions of the rings are of a size such that they are effective to engage only one of :azemreoe therkeys at one time. -Aseatresult,aas longeasrtheroperator maintains the trigger =ring "74 in the .Fig. :lOiposition, a drivinglconnectionfor the cam '52 is'provided.

When the operator releases the knee pad, the spring96 provides for a return of the control Irod 92 .to its-"down wardly movedyposition. illustrated in s Fig. '7 and aa conser-quent movement of the .triggerring 74in a counterclockwise direction to aposition in which the ring 74:iSIC- turnedto the., position'illustratedinFig. 11. In this-"position, the ring '74 operates to maintain a key 62 .or'r63 in a retracted position'after travel of the key off the wide ring portions. As aresult, both "keys 62 and aremaintained in retracted positions by the rings-.67 and r74.so thatthe rotation of-the cam "52-and the -1roll 37 is stopped.

IIn this connection, assumethat-the cam 52 is inaposition.in whichthelowsideSS is against the follower '53 so that .the roll-37 is in an up positionspacedifrom-the .shoe .23 .as :shown .in .Fig. -1. When the operatorrmoves -'the control .rod 92 .upwardly and .quickly releases the .rod '92, by actuationofthe correspondingknee pad, the 'key .63 is moved'by'the spring plate leg .88 to-a projected pos'i'tionin which .the tail portion 66 thereof. is received Iin'a notch101'in the hub 47 to provide. forrotation of the clutch'body 49 in a .counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 5 and'12 to a positionrin which theen- "ga'gedkey is move'dto a retracte'd position .by the cam surface73.

Asbest appears inFig. 12, thetinner sideso'f the. key heads '64arelformed'with angula'rly related surfaces- 60.

These surfaces 60 are related-to the cam surface '73 on "the'camfring 67 such thata key "head '64 engages the "cam'surface 73! only ;at the juncture 60a of the surfaces "'60. During 'travelidf a key hea'd64 on the surface 73 whenthejuncture 60a reaches a 'pull out point interengagementof the key'63 with the'hub 47, the "rings "67 'an'd 74 actto prevent the key '62 frorhbein'g moved to a 'position' engagedwith the hub 47,"sinceon releaseofthe "control rod92 the trigger ring 74 is 'moved by-the'rod 92 'in" the direction ofrotation of the body 49. The key i62 does not reach the drop off surface '79' before the 'key a63're'achesthe pull out point on the cam surface73. 'As :a 'result,'the cam 52rotates only'180" to apoitionin which the high side 50 thereof engages the 'follower' 53 'so'zth'at Lthe Jroll'37 is moved against the shoe 23. To

:returntthe roll 37 "to an upposition, it is only necessary lorrepeat the above step 'of tripping the control rod 92. The engagement of the key 62With the hub 47 then ;provides .for'another 180 rotation'of the'ca-mt52. The arrangement of the end 105 of 'thespring plate 1eg 86 (Pig. 5) vadjacent:the-key 63 in-the down position of the .roll 37 positively prevents .any tendency of the cam 52 to rotate in an opposite direction under the-action of the .lfollower 53 (Fig. 7) to maintain the roller 37 against the .shoe 23.

It'is seen, therefore,that actuation of the control lever 92, which is located on one'side ofthe trigger'ring '74, controls the movement 'of'the roll 37 relative tothe -"shoe 23. A second control lever104 (Figs. 3,'4 a'nd '7) mounted on the opposite side of the "trigger ring 74'is operable to actuate'the clutch mechanism '42 (Fig.2) and .thus control rotation of theroll 37.

The clutchrnechanism 42 (Fig. 3)' includes'a'c1utch gear.106.having teeth 1071formedon the side thereof .oppositethe driving gear 41. The gear 106 and an adjacentannular member '108 forman integral body unit,

'generally designated 109, which is spliued on the hub 111 ztor'iat'driving g'ear 11' 2 inthe gear train 43 which-drives :thesshaftM. The gear 112'is mounted for free'rotation ionftheffshaft 48. Aslot 113isepa'rates the clutch. gear'106 and the annular member 1G8 which is formed with slop- Qi'ngLSeIratiO'rIs 114 on :the side thereof opposite the gear 11.06 ifor :-a :purpose 1 to appear later. Extended into the :slot 11B1is;the bifurcated'working end 'portion 116 o'f a clutch actuating .zfork 1.17 whichrhaslits'opp'osite end rrnounte'd'on a -:bar.:118 slideably supported in :boss'es 119 and 121 on the housing .27. The working :end portion .116 has lateral projections 122 extended'from one isi'de lthereofnfor engagement with'one :side of the gear F106, and a dim'ple 123 projected from the opposite :side for engagement with the serrations:114 to facilitate operation of the fork .117 to move the body unit 1'09towar'dand away from the gear 41.

Az spring -124, positi0ned "about the bar.118 and ex- -.tended between the boss 121 andthe fork 2117, whichiis held in an adjusted position on the bar 118 by a sleeve 126; biases therf'ork. and the bar :118 in a .clutch engaging direction. The bar 118 .is .projected through the boss 119 t and terminates r in a: rounded end portion 127 4 positionedin-engagement with an upper; portion 128 \(Figs. 4 .and ,7)-of-the upright controlro d 104.

.The portion 128 is of a gradually decreasing diameter .in-a downward direction so that as a result onupward .movernentofthe.rod.104 to.a positionin which thebar end127 is opposite the reduced diameter -section of :the controLrod portion 128, the .bar 118 is moved by .the spring '124 inw'ar'd1y of the rod "104 on theportionl28 to aposition corresponding to a clutch engaging position ofthe.,gear'10'6. IA sprin'g'129 for the rod 104 normally maintains the rod '104'in such upwardly moved position. "On the other hand, when the control rod'ItM is moved downwardly, against thepressure of'the spring 129 and in response to operator pressure on a .se'condkneetpad '(notishown') connectedto the rod 1 04,the bar end' '127 is moved outwardly of therod 104 on the-rod portion "128'againstthe action of the spring 124. 'The'fork117 is't'hus moved'tothe'right as viewed in Figs. 3 "and'4'to 'movethe clutch 'body 109in'the samedirection and disengage the gear 106 from the driving gear 41.

In response to disengagement of the "clutch gear 106 and'the' driving gear '41, rotation'of theroll '37 is stopped. O'n release of pressure on 'the kneepad associated 'with the'control'rod 1'04, the spring 124 providesfor' a prompt engagement of the'clutch' gear-1'06 with the drivinggear 41so that-rotation of the roll -37'is resumed.

As best appears in FigsfS and '7, theterminal end'por- 'tion'15'1 ofthelea f spring'a'rm "54 ispositione'd directly above the'c'ontrol rod 104. As a result, on'downward -swing'ingmovement' of the arm 54 in response to travel of the follower 53 onthelow side 55 o'f the cam "52,

r the 'arm portion 1 51 acts to depress the control ro'd 104 a-dista'nce necessary to "disengage the clutch mechanism 42. ConsequeritlyQWhen the'rolll37 is inan'uppositio'n, "spaced'fro'm the shoe"23,'the'roll '37-is notrotatin'g.

In "the operation' of the double knee control 'irfo'ner '(Fig.7), assume that the ironer is in the inoperative'positio'n illustrated in Fig. 1 in which the roll isspace'd 'from 'the shoe 23. "In this position oflroll 37, the "arm :54 maintains the controllrod 104in'a d-epressed'p'ositionrin whi'ch the clutch gear 106 is disengagedirom'the driving gear "41 so Ithat'lthe troll 37 .is :not rotating. Assume Lfurthe'r 'ithat an ordinary ironing operation :is desired. .The operator exerts pressure on the knee ipad corre sponding to the control rod 92 to move the trigger :ring 74 from *.the': position shown in Fig. .11 \tothe position shown invFig. 10. This knee pressure is'then quickly :released to provide fora quick return, under'the action of the :spring '96, :of the trigger ring 74 toiits Fig. -11 :positi'o-n. :As previously described, .in response to such move'ment offthe -trigger ring 74, the-carn52 rotates to:a position :in which'the arm :54 is operated to move the roll 37 against the shoe 23. The arm 54 also releases the control rod 104 so that the spring 129 therefor moves the ironing operation is completed, the operator again actuates and quickly releases the knee pad corresponding to the control rod 92 so that the cam again rotates through an angle of 180 to return the roll 37 to its initial nonrotating position spaced from the shoe 23. In an ordinary ironing operation, no pressure is exerted on the knee pad corresponding to the control rod 104 since rotation of the roll 37 is desired and pressure on such knee pad is operable only to stop rotation of the roll 37.

Assume next that a pressing operation is desired. The knee pad for the control rod 104 is pressed to prevent rotation of the roll 37 and pressure on this knee pad is continuously maintained so that no driving force is pro vided for the roll 37. The material to be pressed is then placed against the shoe 23 and the other knee pad is pressed and quickly released, as described above, so that the roll 37 is moved against the shoe 23. When the roll 37 has been in this stationary position against the shoe 23 for the desired pressing period, the knee pad corresponding to the control rod 92 is again actuated to provide for a return movement of the roll to a position spaced from the shoe. This procedure is repeated until the desired pressing operation has been completed.

When an in-and-out ironing operation is desired, for ironing rufiles on a curtain or the like, rotation of the roll 37 when against the shoe 23 is desired so the knee pad corresponding to the control rod 104 is never ac tuated. The operator exerts pressure on the knee pad corresponding to the control rod 92 so that the trigger ring 74 is moved to its position shown in Fig. 10. This pressure is maintained so that the cam 52 continues to rotate, with first one key 63 and then the other key 62 being moved to a projected position engaged with the hub extension 47. The roll 37 is thus continuously moved toward and away from the shoe 23. Concurrently with this roll movement, the rufiled material is manually adjusted by the operator during the times the roll 37 is spaced from the shoe 23 until the ironing operation has been completed, at which time the knee pad corresponding to the control rod 92 is manipulated to return the roll 37 to its initial up position.

One of the main advantages of the clutch assembly 20 of this invention is that in addition to providing the desired operation of an ironer having a double knee control, the assembly 20 is also adapted for use in a single knee control ironer. As illustrated in Fig. 9, a pin 133, secured to and extended radially of a single upright control rod 132 corresponding to the control rod 104 illustrated in Fig. 7, is extended to a position within the slot 80 for the ear 70 on the trigger ring 74. The control rod 132 (Figs. 13, 14 and 15) has a recess 131 formed with a surface 134 inclined downwardly and inwardly of the control rod 132 for coaction with the end 127 of the clutch mechanism control bar 118. When the end 127 of the bar 118 projects fully into the recess 131 (Fig. 13), the clutch mechanism 42 is engaged, as previously described, and when the end 127 is moved outwardly of the recess 131 (Figs. 14 and 15), the clutch mechanism 42 is disengaged.

The control rod 132 is normally biased to an upper position (Fig. 13) by a spring (not shown) and is operable by a knee pad, which is also not shown, arranged beneath the table 22. In this position of the control rod 132, hereinafter referred to as an ironing position, the keys 62 and 63 are in retracted positions so that no drive is provided for the cam 52. In other words, if the cam 52 8 is in a position in which the roll 37 is rotating and is against the shoe 23, this position of the roll is maintained with the control rod 132 in the position illustrated in Fig; 13.

On actuation of the knee pad, the control rod 132 is movable downwardly to an intermediate or press position in which the end 127 of the clutch actuating bar 118 is moved by the inclined recess surface 134 outwardly of the recess 131 a distance providing for a disengagement of the clutch mechanism 42. Such movement of the control rod 132 moves the pin 133 downwardly to in turn provide for a clockwise rotation of the trigger ring 74, as viewed in Figs. 13 and 14. However, such movement of the trigger ring 74 does not affect the position of the roll 37 since the drop off surface 79 remains ahead of the key 62 and the trigger ring 74 maintains the key 62 in a retracted position. The press position of the control rod 132 corresponds to a position to which the rod 132 is depressed by the arm 54 each time the roll 37 is moved to its up position by rotation of the cam 52 to a position in which the low side 50 thereof engages the follower 53.

On actuation of the knee pad to further move the rod 132 in a downward direction to a lower position, hereinafter described as the trip position, the end 127 of the bar 118 is moved entirely out of the recess 131. Such movement of the bar 118, however, has no effect on the roll 37 since the clutch mechanism 42 is maintained in a disengaged position so that the roll 37 does not rotate. On the other hand, the trigger ring is further rotated in a clockwise direction to a position (Fig. 15) in which the drop off surface 79 is behind the key 62, so that the key 62, under the action of the spring leg 88, is moved to an extended position to provide for rotation of the cam 52. If the knee pad is then quickly released, the cam 52 rotates 180 to change the position of the roll 37 relative to the shoe 23.

In the operation of an ironer having a single knee control rod 132, assume that the roll 37 is in an up position spaced from the shoe 23. In this position of the roll 37, the arm 54 maintains the control rod 132 in a press position (Fig. 14) in which the clutch actuating bar 118 disengages the clutch mechanism 42. Also, in this position of the roll, the key 63 is in the position illustrated for the key 62 in Fig. 14. Assume further that an ordinary ironing operation is desired. The knee pad for the control rod 132 is actuated to move the rod 132 downwardly to the trip position (Fig. 15) in which the key 63 is moved inwardly to an engaged position with the hub 47 to provide for rotation of the cam 52. The knee pad is then quickly released to provide for return of the rod 132 to the ironing position and limit rotation of the cam 52 to 180.

The roll 37 is thus moved against the shoe 23 and rotated since the end 127 of the bar 118 is within the recess 131. When the ironing operation is to be terminated, the control rod 132 is again moved to its trip position (Fig. 15) and released to provide for the return of the roll 37 to its non-rotating up position.

If a pressing operation is desired, the control rod 132 is first moved to its trip position (Fig. 15 and then released for movement only to the intermediate press position. For this manipulation of the control rod 132, the trigger ring 74 is actuated to provide for a 180 rotation of the cam 52 to move the roll 37 against the shoe 23. However, the bar 118 is maintained in a position out of the recess 131 (Fig. 14) so that no rotation of the roll 37 is provided.

It can thus be seen that the clutch assembly 20 is readily assembled with a single knee control rod 132 to provide for ironer operation in response to movement of the rod 132 between three predetermined positions. With the single knee control rod 132 the ironer is capable of the usual ironing and pressing operations. An

9 in-and-out ironing operation-cannot be accomplished with the single knee control rod 132.

From the above description, it is seen that this invention provides an ironing machine clutch assembly 20 which is readily operable in conjunction with the clutch mechanism 42 which controls rotation of the roll 37 to provide the desired ironing operations. The cam and trigger rings 67 and 74, respectively, are readily and aceurately cast of powdered metal within the required tolerance limits to thus eliminate the precise machining operations normally required in the construction of clutch assemblies. Furthermore, by virtue of the movement of the rings 67 and 74 in planes perpendicular to the plane of the shaft 48, the tolerance buildups of the elements extended longitudinally of the shaft 48 are not enlarged by the tolerances permitted on the rings 67 and 74. As a result, greater tolerance latitude is permitted in the construction of the parts on the shaft 48.

By virtue of the unit construction of the assembly 2b, as it appears in Figs. 6 and 8 in assembly with the gear 41, the assembly 20 is readily checked for proper operation prior to its assembly in an ironing machine, thus eliminating the necessity for removing a defective clutch assembly 20 from a finished machine. Further, since the trigger ring 74 is initially formed with the two oppositely extended ears 65 and 70, it is readily assembled in either a double knee control machine (Fig. 7) or a single knee control machine (Fig. 9).

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, since changes can be made therein which are within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

What isclaimed is:

1. In an ironing machine having a main frame, a shoe mounted in a fixed position on the frame, a rotatable roll movably mounted on the frame for movement into and out of engagement with the shoe, and motor means on said frame for both rotating and moving said roll; cam means operatively associated with said roll for moving the roll toward and away from said shoe on rotation of said cam means, clutch means operatively arranged between said motor means and said cam means for 'providing selective rotation of said cam means, said clutch means comprising a rotatable clutch body arranged in a driving relation with said cam, a pair of key members slidably mounted on spaced portions of said body for movement to positions projected outwardly of one end thereof, means for continuously biasingone or the other of said key members toward said projected position, a stationary cam ring positioned about said clutch body, cam means on said cam ring engageable with said key -members, said cam means being of a size to continuously engage one or the other of said key members to retract the engaged key member against the pressure of said biasing means, a trigger ring positioned about said cam ring and selectively movable between a pair -of rotated positions relative thereto, in one of said positions said trigger means being engaged with one of said key members to maintain said member in a retracted position and in the other position being in a clearance relation with both of said key members to provide for movement of one of said key members to a projected position, and a key receiving member positioned opposite said one-end of the clutch body and arranged in a driven relation with said motor means for drivingsaid clutch body when one of said key members is received insaid key receiving member.

2. For use in an ironing machine having a shoe, a roll mounted for movement toward and away from said shoe, a cam operatively associated with said roll for moving the roll, and a motor for rotating said cam; a clutch assembly for selectively imparting rotary motion to said cam from said motor, said assembly comprising a cylindrical clutch body secured to said cam for rotation therewith, a pair of key members slidably mounted on diametrically opposite portions of said body for movement to positions projected outwardly of one end there of, means biasing said key members to said projected positions, 'a stationary cam ring positioned about said clutch body, cam means on said ring engaged with one of'said key members for maintaining said one key member inwardly of a projected position, a trigger ring positioned about and rotatably supported on said cam ring, means biasing said trigger ring to a first position engaged with the other one of said key members for maintaining said other key member, against movement to a projected position, said trigger ring being movable against the biasing means therefor to a second position in a clearance relation with said otherkey member for movement thereof to a projected position, and a key receiving member arranged in a driven relation with said motor and adapted to receive said key members when in the projected positions thereof for driving said clutch body from said motor.

3. In an ironing machine which includes a clutchassembly having a rotatable clutch'body provided with key members slidable axially thereof and biased toward a position projected fromone end thereof, a stationary cam ring positioned about said clutch body for selective engagement with said key members to move said key members inwardly of said projected positions, and a trigger ring positioned about said cam ring and movable between a pair of positions relative thereto, said trigger ring in a first position cooperating with said cam ring to maintain said key members inwardly of the projected positions thereof, and in a second position being in a clearance relation with said key members formovemcnt of a key member to a projected position.

4. In an ironing machine which includes a clutch .assembly having a rotatable clutch "body provided with a pair of spaced key members slidable axially thereof'and biased toward a position projected outwardly from one end thereof for engagement with a driving member, a stationary cam ring positioned about said clutch body for engagement with said key members, said cam ring being of a shape to provide for the movement of first one and then the other of said key members inwardly from said projected positions on rotation of said clutch body, a trigger ring positioned about said cam ring for selective movement between a pair of positions, said trigger ring being of a shape such that in one of said positions the trigger ring engages the one of said key members which is not maintained against movement to a projected position by said cam ring and acts to releasably prevent movement of said one key member'to a projected position, said trigger ring being of a shape such that in a second position thereof said one key member is movable to the projected position therefor .to provide for driving of said clutch body, with movement of said trigger ring from said second to said first position providing for movement of both said key members inwardly from said retracted positions to provide for in terruption of driving of said clutch body in increments proportional to the spacing of said key members.

5. In an ironing maching having a main frame, an ironing shoe fixedly mounted on said main frame, an ironing roll movably mounted on said frame for movement into and out of engagement with said shoe and a driving member for moving said roll; clutch meansfor controlling said roll movement, said clutch means including a clutch body, key members on said clutch body movable into and out of driven engagement with said driving member, and a pair of coacting relatively movable ring members mounted on said clutch body and operatively associated with said key members for controlling the movement thereof, said ring members being operable on relative movement thereof to provide selectively for movement of said roll into engagement with said-shoe, out of engagement with said shoe, andfor con- 1 1 tinuous back and forth movement into and out of engagement with said shoe.

6. In an ironing machine having a main frame, an ironing shoe fixedly mounted on said frame, a rotatable ironing roll movably mounted on said main frame for movement into and out of engagement with said shoe, and a driving member for rotating said roll and for moving the roll into and out of engagement with said shoe; a clutch assembly selectively operable to provide for movement of said roll into and out of engagement with said shoe, a clutch mechanism operable to start and stop rotation of said roll, said clutch assembly including a clutch body, key members on said body movable into and out of driven engagement with said driving member, a pair of coaeting relatively movable ring members mounted on said clutch body and operatively associated with said key members for controlling the movement thereof into engagement with said driving member, actuating means engaged with one of said ring members operable to provide for said relative ring member movement, and means responsive in operation to said actuating means for selectively actuating said clutch mechanism to provide for rotation of said roll.

7. For use in an ironing machine having a shoe, a roll mounted for movement toward and away from said shoe, a cam operatively associated with said roll for moving the roll, and a motor for rotating said cam; a clutch assembly for selectively imparting rotary motion to said cam from said motor, said assembly comprising a cylindrical clutch body secured to said cam for rotation therewith, a pair of key members slidably mounted on-diametrically opposite portions of said body for movement to positions projected outwardly of one end thereof, means operatively associated with said key members for alternately biasing one or the other of said key members toward a position projected outwardly of one end of said clutch body, a pair of relatively movable ring members positioned about said clutch body and engageable in one position thereof with said key members for preventing movement of the key members to said projected positions, said ring members in a second position thereof providing for movement of one of said key members to a projected position, and a key receiving member arranged in a driven relation with said motor and adapted to receive said key members when in the projected positions thereof for driving said clutch body from said motor.

8. In an ironing machine having a main frame, an ironing shoe fixedly mounted on said main frame, a rotatable ironing roll movably mounted on said frame for movement into and out of engagement with said shoe and a driving member for rotating said roll and for moving said roll into and out of engagement with the shoe; first clutch means for controlling said roll movement, second clutch means for controlling rotation of said shoe, a control rod movably mounted on said main frame for actuating said first clutch means, said control rod having a recess formed therein and provided with an inclined surface, and means including an actuating bar for said second clutch means biased toward a position projected into said recess and movable out of said recess along said inclined surface in response to axial movement of said control rod for actuating said second clutch means in a predetermined coordinated relation with actuation of said first clutch means.

9. For use in ironing machine having a shoe, a rotatable roll mounted for movement toward and away from said shoe, a cam operatively associated with said roll for moving the roll relative to the shoe, driving means for rotating said roll, a motor for rotating said cam and said roll, a clutch assembly for selectively imparting rotary motion to said earn from said motor, a clutch mechanism for selectively driving said roll driving means from said motor; said clutch assembly comprising a cylindrical clutch body secured to said cam for rotating the cam, a pair of key members slidably mounted on diametrically opposite portions of said body for movement to positions projected outwardly of one end thereof, means biasing said key members to said projected positions, a stationary cam ring positioned about said clutch body, a trigger ring movably mounted on said clutch body for movement between a pair of positions, cooperating means on said rings for controlling the movement of said key members to the projected positions therefor, said rings in one position of said trigger ring providing for the maintaining of said key members inwardly of the projected positions therefor, and in a second position for alternate movement of said key members to projected positions, a key receiving member arranged in a driven relation with said motor and adapted to receive a key member in the projected position thereof for driving said clutch body from said motor, means for moving said trigger ring, manually operable actuating means for operating said clutch mechanism to provide for selective rotation of said roll and means responsive in operation to the position of said cam for operating said actuating means.

10. For use in an ironing machine having a shoe, a rotatable roll mounted for movement toward and away from said shoe, a cam operatively associated with said roll for moving the roll, and a motor for rotating said cam; a clutch mechanism for selectively imparting rotary motion to said roll, a clutch assembly for selectively imparting rotary motion to said earn from said motor, said assembly comprising a cylindrical clutch body secured to said cam for rotation therewith, a pair of key members slidably mounted on diametrically opposite portions of said body for movement to positions projected outwardly of one end thereof, means operatively associated with said key members for alternately biasing one or the other of said key members toward a position projected outwardly of one end of said clutch body, a pair of relatively movable ring members positioned about said clutch body and engageable in one position thereof with said key members for preventing movement of the key members to said projected positions, said ring members in a second position thereof providing for movement of one of said key members to a projected position, a key receiving member arranged in a driven relation with said motor and adapted to receive said key members when in the projected positions thereof for driving said clutch body from said motor, a reciprocally movable actuating member mounted on said frame and movably connected to one of said ring members for relatively moving the ring members and means responsive in operation to movement of said actuating member to operate said clutch mechanism.

11. In an ironing machine having a main frame, an ironing shoe fixedly mounted on said main frame, a rotatable ironing roll movably mounted on said frame for movement into and out of engagement with said shoe, a motor for rotating said roll and for moving the roll into and out of engagement with said shoe, a clutch assembly for selectively imparting movement to said roll from said motor, a clutch mechanism selectively operable to provide for rotation of said roll from said motor, said clutch assembly including a clutch body, a driving member driven from said motor, means movably mounted on said clutch body for movement into and out of driven engagement with said driving member, a pair of coacting relatively movable ring members mounted on said clutch body and operatively associated with said movable members for controlling the movement thereof into and out of engagement with said driving member to provide selectively for movement of said roll into and out of engagement with said shoe, first manually operable means for relatively moving said ring members, second manually operable means for selectively actuating said clutch mechanism, and means carried by said roll and engageable with said second manually operable means in a position 13 of said roll out of engagement with said shoe for operating said second means to disengage said clutch mechanism.

12. For use in an ironing machine having a shoe, a rotatable roll mounted for movement toward and away from said shoe, a cam operatively associated with said roll for moving the roll between a first position against the shoe and a second position spaced from the shoe, driving means for rotating said roll, a motor for rotating said cam and said roll, a clutch assembly for selectively imparting rotary motion to said cam from said motor, a clutch mechanism for selectively driving said roll driving means from said motor; said clutch assembly comprising a cylindrical clutch body secured to said cam for rotating the earn, a pair of key members slidably mounted on diametrically opposite portions of said body for movement to positions projected outwardly of one end thereof, means biasing said key members to said projected positions, a stationary cam ring positioned about said clutch body, a trigger ring movably mounted on said clutch body for move ment between a pair of positions, cooperating means on said rings for controlling the movement of said key members to the projected positions therefor, said rings in one position of said trigger ring providing for the maintaining of said key members inwardly of the projected position therefor, and in a second position for successive movement of .said key members to projected positions so that one key member is moved to a projected position concurrently with the retraction of the other key member, a key receiving member arranged in a driven relation with said motor and adapted to receive a key member in the projected position thereof for driving said clutch body from said motor, means for moving said trigger ring, actuating means for operating said clutch mechanism to provide forselective rotation of said roll, means responsive in operation to the arrangement of said cam in the second position thereof for operating said actuating means to disengage said clutch mechanism and discontinue rotation of said roll, and means on said actuating means engaged with said trigger ring for moving the trigger ring between said positions therefor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 19,429 Sperlich et a1. Jan. 15, 1935 2,061,275 Hume Nov. 17, 1936 

